Hebrews 5:1 kjv
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
Hebrews 5:1 nkjv
For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
Hebrews 5:1 niv
Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
Hebrews 5:1 esv
For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
Hebrews 5:1 nlt
Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.
Hebrews 5 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 28:1 | "Bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons... that he may minister as priest to me." | Divine appointment of Aaronic priesthood. |
| Lev 4:20, 26 | "Thus the priest shall make atonement for them... and it shall be forgiven them." | Sacrifices offered for sins to bring forgiveness. |
| Lev 9:7 | Moses said to Aaron, "Draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering..." | Priests making atonement for themselves and people. |
| Num 3:10 | "And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood..." | Appointment confirms priestly office. |
| Deu 10:8 | "At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi... to minister to him..." | Priests were divinely separated for service. |
| Eze 44:15 | "But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept guard over my sanctuary... they shall come near to me to minister to me..." | Priestly duty to minister before God. |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth..." | Priests also instructed the people in divine matters. |
| Zec 3:1 | Joshua the high priest stood before the Angel of the LORD. | High priest's representative role before God. |
| Heb 4:14 | "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus..." | Introduces Jesus as the ultimate High Priest. |
| Heb 4:15 | "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses..." | Connects to "from among men," emphasizing Christ's empathy. |
| Heb 5:2 | "He can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset with weakness." | Priest's shared humanity allows gentleness. |
| Heb 7:26 | "For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained..." | Describes the ideal High Priest, fulfilled by Christ. |
| Heb 7:27 | "He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people..." | Highlights the Aaronic priest's need for personal atonement. |
| Heb 8:3 | "For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices..." | Reiterates the function of any high priest. |
| Heb 9:7 | "But into the second only the high priest goes once a year, and not without taking blood..." | Refers to the annual atonement ceremony for sins. |
| Heb 9:12 | "He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood..." | Christ's superior, singular sacrifice. |
| Heb 10:1 | "For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never..." | Old Covenant rituals as types, not reality. |
| Heb 10:4 | "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." | Limitations of Old Covenant sacrifices. |
| Heb 10:10-12 | "And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down..." | Christ's decisive, perfect sacrifice. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." | Believers as spiritual priests. |
| Rev 1:6 | "and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father..." | Believers' royal priesthood in Christ. |
Hebrews 5 verses
Hebrews 5 1 Meaning
Hebrews 5:1 clearly articulates the fundamental nature and responsibilities of an Old Covenant high priest. This verse establishes that any high priest must be chosen from humanity, signifying a shared human experience. Their role is to represent people before God, a service focused on divine matters, primarily through the presentation of various gifts and specific sacrifices offered to atone for sins. This serves as a foundational description before the author elucidates the unique and superior high priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 5 1 Context
Hebrews Chapter 5 follows the assertion in Hebrews 4:14-16 that Jesus Christ is our compassionate "great High Priest" who sympathizes with our weaknesses. Verse 1 of chapter 5 marks the beginning of a detailed exposition on the nature of high priesthood, contrasting the earthly Aaronic system with the superior, divine priesthood of Christ. The immediate context of Hebrews 5:1-4 outlines the qualifications of any legitimate high priest: chosen from humanity, appointed by God, sympathetic, and ordained to offer sacrifices for sins. This comprehensive description of the Old Covenant high priest's office is essential. It provides a familiar backdrop for the original Jewish Christian audience, allowing the author to systematically demonstrate how Christ fully embodies these characteristics while also transcending the limitations and temporal nature of the Levitical priesthood. Historically, the audience was steeped in the practices of the temple and the significance of the high priest's role in the national and individual spiritual life of Israel. The author skillfully re-presents these known facts before unveiling Christ's perfect and eternal fulfillment.
Hebrews 5 1 Word analysis
- For (γὰρ - gar): This conjunction signifies a causal relationship, indicating that the information presented in this verse explains or justifies the previous statements about Jesus's high priesthood in Hebrews 4. It signals a move to establish a general principle.
- every (πᾶς - pas): Expresses universality, referring to any and all individuals holding the office of high priest. It sets a comprehensive standard for the discussion.
- high priest (ἀρχιερεὺς - archiereus): The specific term for the chief or leading priest in the Israelite priestly lineage. This position was singular and carried immense religious authority and responsibility.
- taken (λαμβανόμενος - lambanomenos): A present passive participle meaning "being taken" or "being selected." This emphasizes that the appointment is external and authoritative, implying divine choice rather than personal aspiration or human vote.
- from among men (ἐξ ἀνθρώπων - ex anthrōpōn): Highlights the priest's shared humanity. He must originate from mankind to effectively represent them, understanding their frailty and having the capacity for empathy.
- is ordained (καθίσταται - kathistatai): A present passive indicative verb, meaning "is appointed," "is set up," or "is constituted." This term signifies an authoritative, official, and stable establishment in the office, indicating a divine or governmental act of commissioning.
- for men (ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων - hyper anthrōpōn): Emphasizes the beneficiary and purpose of the high priest's ministry. All his actions are performed on behalf of humanity, specifically for their reconciliation and relationship with God.
- in things pertaining to God (τὰ πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν - ta pros ton Theon): This phrase defines the specific domain of the high priest's responsibilities. His ministry exclusively deals with religious duties, matters concerning worship, spiritual reconciliation, and the human-divine interface.
- that he may offer (ἵνα προσφέρῃ - hina prosphērē): A purpose clause, detailing the primary active duty of the high priest. The continuous or habitual offering underscores a key function of the office.
- both gifts (δῶρά - dōra): Refers to a general category of offerings or presents brought to God. These typically included voluntary offerings such as grain offerings or peace offerings, symbolizing dedication, thanksgiving, or fellowship.
- and sacrifices (θυσίας - thysias): Specifically refers to blood offerings, which were prescribed for specific acts of atonement, especially for sin. These were distinct from "gifts" as they carried expiatory power.
- for sins (ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν - hyper hamartiōn): This critical phrase explicitly states the primary reason for many of the high priest's most significant actions. The sacrifices were offered on behalf of sins to remove defilement, guilt, and restore covenant relationship with God.
Hebrews 5 1 Bonus section
The consistent use of the passive voice for "taken" (lambanomenos) and "is ordained" (kathistatai) profoundly emphasizes that the priestly office is not a self-assumed position, nor solely a human appointment, but ultimately a divine calling and establishment. This highlights the inherent authority that God bestows upon His chosen representatives. The flow from the universal "every high priest" to the specific actions of "offering both gifts and sacrifices for sins" presents a logical, structured argument, carefully building from the known (the Aaronic priesthood) to prepare for the introduction of the new (Christ's priesthood). The phrasing "in things pertaining to God" is critical, limiting the high priest's function strictly to spiritual, ceremonial, and theological matters, distinguishing his authority from political or civil rulers. This clear boundary establishes the specific sacred realm where the high priest operated.
Hebrews 5 1 Commentary
Hebrews 5:1 concisely defines the essential criteria for any high priest within the Old Covenant system, providing the bedrock upon which the unique priesthood of Jesus Christ will be presented. This single verse covers four indispensable aspects: the necessity of divine appointment, a shared humanity with those represented, the ultimate purpose of serving humanity in matters pertaining to God, and the key function of offering sacrifices for sins. By highlighting that the high priest is "taken from among men," the author underscores the vital need for empathy and understanding—a point powerfully reiterated regarding Christ in Hebrews 4:15. The role is inherently mediatorial: representing humanity before God through ritual acts of atonement, thereby establishing a path for fellowship. The distinction between "gifts" and "sacrifices for sins" shows the priest's dual responsibility for voluntary worship and prescribed expiation. This earthly template, while perfect within its covenant, inherently foreshadows a greater reality. The verse sets the framework for understanding why Christ, perfect God and perfect Man, fully qualifies as a high priest and then, through His once-for-all sacrifice, surpasses every earthly high priest, perfecting what the Old Covenant system could only foreshadow.